Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/751131
The two major grape varieties in the Tokaj region are FURMINT and HÁRSLEVELŰ. ZWEIGELT is a cross of Blaufränk- isch (known as Lem- berger in Germany and as Kékfrankos in Hungary) and St. Laurent. THE VINEA WACHAU (Vinea Wachau Nobilis Districtus) was founded in 1983 as an association of winemakers in the Wachau wine-grow- ing area. As the majority of Central Europe depends on a continental climate, vineyards lie close to larger bodies of water to allow for quality grape growing. With a wine industry dating back to the 16th century, Hungary, and its most famous region of Tokaj, sits at the confluence of the Bodrog and Tisza rivers. Its wholly volcanic soils encourage acidity, and the region is sheltered by the Carpathian Mountains. In a country where even its most cosmopolitan city, Vienna, is its own wine region, it is no surprise that Austria is actively renovat- ing their wine laws. Austria's continental climate that is moderated in part by the Danube River that flows through its valleys. Near the river, the soils consist of loess and sandy loam while gneiss and schist comprise the hillside soils. Further southeast, the sweet wines of Bur- genland rely on the lake of Neuseidlersee to encourage the develop- ment of botrytis cinerea. Switzerland relies on several large lakes to temper its wine growing regions, with its most prolific regions in proximity to Lake Geneva. Continental climates can be challenging for quality wine production, but with bodies of water and sheltering mountain ranges, unlikely mesoclimates can become valued vineyard sites. 23 AUSTRIA, SWITZERLAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE